We are joined by psychotherapist, author, and short filmmaker Kelley Kitley. Kelley talks with us about starting her psychotherapy job and her entrepreneurial journey. She discusses her journey through becoming sober and the pressure of peers telling her not to share her journey. However, sharing her journey made clients feel more comfortable with her, and her business took off. Tune in today to hear more about Kelley’s sobriety journey and the effects on her business. Also, check out her book MY self, An Autobiography of Survival and her short film Gray Area.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [8:05] What is Kelley’s business and her journey thus far?
• [17:10] Kelley talks about entrepreneurship and how she started with psychotherapy.
• [19:12] What was the biggest challenge from leaving an established practice to starting her practice?
• [21:05] What has her experience as an entrepreneur been in sobriety vs. before she was sober?
• [24:12] What is the difference between alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction?
• [28:38] How do you integrate the intersection between work and life?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Sharing your story and showing authenticity can make a huge difference in your business. It allows people to know, like, and trust you, as well as relate to you, which shows that you’ve been through the trenches, and you can show them that your story can help them. 
• Find the time that you are most productive and work during that time. When a lot is going on in life and work, finding that balance, your best work time, and having a supportive partner are huge for success in the business.  
• Follow the path that you feel most called to. Take the risk. If you are unhappy in your current job/business, leap and go for it. The worst that will happen is you hear “no” and keep pushing. 

BIO:

Kelley has an eclectic array of experiences using a holistic approach. Her areas of expertise include anxiety and depression, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, enhancing relationships with couples, and using a short-term model called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT.) Kelley also works with patients in longer-term treatment to work through trauma (including rape and sexual abuse), eating disorders, substance abuse, loss, and phase of life issues.

She’s an action-oriented therapist who believes the therapeutic process is a partnership and works with clients to define and ultimately achieve their goals. She uses positive psychology and coaching to help people be the best version of themselves.

LINKS MENTIONED:

MY self, An Autobiography of Survival 

Kelley Kitley Website